Ballast-plowing device



E. FIDLER BALLAST PLOWING DEVI CE Filed Jan. 14 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug, 2 1924 1,504,33%

E. G.-FIDLER BALLAST PLOWING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 atented Aug. 12, lQZd.

tnnren fiTATEfi QM a WdlhNT @FFE EARL (at. FIDLEH, OF GARRETT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNGR OF ONE-HALF 130 LEE W. PGLLAPJD, OF GIA'RR'ETT,'ZBENNSYL'VANIA.i

BALLAST-PLOW-ING DEVICE.

Application filed January 14, 1924. $eria1 No. 686,230.

T 0 all 10 ham it may concern Be it known that I, EARL Gr. FIDIJER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garrett, in the county of Somerset and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in B'allastPlowing Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a ballast "plowing device and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and "improved device of this general character adapted to be applied to rolling stock and which operates effectively 'to spread and distribute ballast.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel and improved device of this general character which operates to effect a material saving of labor in what iscommonly known by trackmen as ballast dressing and which works both between rails of a trackway and the regulation distance outside of'the trackway.

Furthermore it is an object of the'invention to provide a novel "and improved device of this general character which is adapted to travel along the rails of the trackway together with lubricating means to facilitate such travel.

An additional object of the invention 'is to orovide a novel and improved device of t is general character comprising a member adapted to be disposed upon the rails of a trackway and having plowing elements carried thereby adapted to extend between the rails, said elements being each secured to the member in a manner whereby such elements may be separated from the member independently of the other members upon abnormal resistance or impact.

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of this general character comprising a member adapted to travel over therails of a trackway together "with a second member adapted 'to be mounted upon the first named member to preventth'e ballast from passing over the top of the first named member during a working operation.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar rangement of the'several parts of my improved ballast plowing device whereby certain important advantages-are attained and better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the acfconipany'ing drawings, wherein Figure l is a view in perspective of a ballast plowing device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention,'the guard or shield being omitted;

F gureQ 1s a view 1n perspective of the guard or shield as herein disclosed;

Figure3 is a view partly in section and partly ineleva'tion illustrating my improved ,device as herein disclosed in working position, said section being adj acent to an end of the device;

Figure 4 "is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of the device as herein disclosed, the line of section being substantially central to the device;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation of the device as herein disclosed.

As d1SCl0SCl1n the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes an elongated member or beam of desired dimensions and which is provided in lts under surface at desired points inwardly of its opposite ends with the recesses 2 adapted to fit upon the heads of the rails R whereby the member 1 may be supportedby'such rails and readily move or slide'thereover. The lower portion 3 of the member 1 intermediate the recesses 2 is permitted by the recesses 2 to drop a desired distance below the top of the rails R.

Disposed through the member 1 and in communication with the recesses 2 are the vertically disposed openings or holes 4 each having therein .a filler 5 of cotton or other absorbent material which is adapted to be saturated wi't'h'a'suitable lubricant. As the member 1 travels over the ralls R the lubricant will work down and pass out upon the top ofthe railspR and to an extent to maintain the "walls of the recesses 2 sulficiently lubricated to cause the member 1 to travel over the rails with greater facility and ease.

Underlying the bottom face of the intermediate portion 3 of the member 1 are the blocks 6, herein disclosed as three in number. The blocks 6 are in close contact with such under face and are held' thereto by the boat spikes 7. These. spikes 7 also hold to the under face of each of the blocks 6 y a wear plate 8 of sheet iron, said plates having their forward margins provided with an upstanding flange 9 overlying the forward face of the associated block 6, said flange 9 serving to prevent the plate from wearing loose fromthe block.

7 The forward face of the member 1 preferably inwardly of but in close proximity to the recesses 2 is provided with the notches 10 in which are secured 'extremitiesof the chains 11 and 11 one of said chains, as 11, being of alength greater than the other chain. 11. These chains provide means whereby the member 1-may be operatively engaged with the rolling stock such as a dumping car used in the initlal distribution of the ballast. These chains ll' and 11 are adapted to be suitablypositioned over any desired part of the rolling stock or car such as break rig hangings or frames or, if used ahead of the car, may be coupled 'to the draw head. The longer'chain 11 in effecting a connection with the rolling stock or car, is threaded through a ring 12 carried by the outer or free end of the 7 chain 11, the outer portion of the chain 11 and inward incline and overlying such base portions and suitablyheld thereto are the wear plates 17. These wear plates serve to prevent the wheels of the rolling stock or car having direct contact with the member 1 cutting through said member. a In practice, the member 1 is preferably positioned and supported in front of the rear truck of' a rollingstock or car and rearwardly of the bottom dumping doors of such stock or car and with the chains 11 and 11 so adjusted or tightened so that under normal, conditions the member 1 will have contact with but slide along on the rails R but should thestock or car be lifted byan obstruction on the trackway or from other cause-s the member .1 will also lift with the stock or car whereby liability is substantially avoided of the stock or car being derailed by the member 1. V With my'improved device in position the stock or car as the ballast is dumped, is caused to move at a comparatively low speed in the direction the ballast is to be distributed or spread and as the member 1 rides or slides along on the rails R the blocks 6 serve as plowing elements to plow out the ballast between the rails during the time the ballast is being unloaded from the car or if preferred can be employed to the same advantage after the ballast has first been dumped or unloaded upon the trackway.

The end portions of the member 1 outwardly of the recesses 2 serve to effectively distribute or spread the ballast outside of the rails.

If, during a working operation a large stone should be dropped with the ballast upon the trackway, the resistance offered thereby can only result in the tearing or stripping off of one of the blocks 6 and thereby avoid derailment of the stock or car.

The opposite ends of the member 1 are provided with the pockets 18 intersected by a bolt or rod 19 disposed transversely of the member 1, said bolts or rods 19 providing hand holes or grasps to facilitate the hand ling of the member 1. These bolts or rods 19 also provide anchoring means for a second member 20 adapted to be disposed upon the member 1. The member 20 is of a length substantially equal to the length of the member 1 and when mounted upon said member 1 serves as a guard or shield to prevent the ballast from passing over the top of the member 1 during a working operation whereby the efliciency of the device is materially increased.

Each end portion of the member 20 is provided with a pair of outstanding plates 21 provided with aligned slots 22 disposed in a direction lengthwise of the member 20. Slidably engaged within the slots 22 is a belt or pin 23 to which is pivotally engaged, between the plates 21 an end portion of the shank or tang 24 of a hook 25. The hook 25 is adapted to be engaged with a bolt or red 19 whereby the member 20 is effectively main-- tained in applied position.

To prevent accidental displacement or dis engagement of a hook 25 with a bolt or rod 19, the assoc ated shank or tang 24 has slidably mounted thereon a keeper 2G.

The slots 22 hereinbefore referred to allow the bolts or pins 23 to move backward in case the device is dropped off a car on some hard surface and thereby prevents bending of the hooks 25 or the shanks or tangs 24.

The outer blocks 6 may be positioned with respect to the recesses 2 as best complies with the requirements of practice, preferably near enough to the rails to clear the track bolts so that no ballast will be left which will have to be removed by hand.

It is also to be understood that the device can be employed on any kind of a car and not necessarily a dumping car so that with the use of the device no extra equipment is necessary.

lln practice, the plowing device operates effectively to plow the ballast out between the rails down to about level with the ties embedded in the roadbed and to distribute the ballast outside of the rails in about the proper amount so as to require but little hand work or labor.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a ballast plowing device constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible to some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as here inafter claimed.

1 claim 1. A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to travel upon the rails of a traclrway, attaching means associated therewith, and plow elements secured to the under face of the member.

2. A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to travel upon the rails of a trackway, attaching means associated therewith, plow elements secured to the under face of the member, each of said elements constituting a block, and means for securing each of the blocks to the member.

3. A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to travel upon the rails of a trackway, attaching means associated therewith, plow elements secured to to the under face of the member, each of said elements constituting a block, and a wear plate underlying each of the blocks.

l. A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to travel upon the rails of a trackway, attaching means as sociated therewith, plow elements secured to the under face of the member, each of said elements constituting a block, and bolts securing each of the blocks to the member.

5, A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a member adapted to travel along the rails of a trackway, supporting means therefor, a second member positioned upon the first named member and eXtending lengthwise thereof, and means carried by the end portions of the first named member and engaging the end portions of the second named member for holding the second member in applied position.

6. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a member adapted to travel along therails of a trackway, supporting means therefor, a second member positioned upon the first named member and extending lengthwise thereof, hand grasps carried by the opposite end portions of the first named member, and anchoring elements carried by the second member and engage- "able w1th the hand grasps to maintain the second member in applied position.

7. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a member adapted to rest and travel upon the rails of a trackway, a second member positioned thereon, hook members slidably engaged with the opposite end portions of the first named member, and elements carried by the first named member with which the hook members engage to maintain the second named member in applied position.

8. A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to travel upon the rails of a trackway, said member in its under surface being provided with recesses to fit upon the heads of the rails, attaching means associated therewith and secured to the member inwardly of but in close proximity to the recesses, and plow elements secured to the under face of the member.

9. A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to travel upon the rails of a trackway, flexible attaching means associated therewith, and plow elements, secured to the under face of the member.

10. A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to travel upon the rails of a trackway, said member in its under surface being provided with recesses to fit upon the heads of the rails, attaching means associated therewith, plow elements secured to the under face of the member, and wear plates secured to the upper rear marginal portions of the member above the recesses.

11. A device of the class described comprising a member adapted to travel along the rails of a trackway, supporting means therefor, a second member positioned upon the first named -member and extending lengthwise thereof, each end portion of the member being provided with a pair of outstanding plates, said plates being provided with aligned slots, pins slidably engaged within the slots, a hook member pivotally engaged with the pin, and means carried by the first named member with which the hook member engages to hold the second named member in applied position upon the first named member.

12. A device of the class described comprising a member adapted to travel along the rails of a trackway, supporting means therefor, a second member positioned upon the first named member and extending lengthwise thereof, each end portion of the member being provided with a pair of outstanding plates, said plates being provided With aligned slots, pins slidably engaged with the slots, a hook member pivotally engaged With the pin, said hook member being mounted upon the pin between the plates, and means carried by the first named member With Which the hook member engages to hold the second named member in applied position upon the first named member.

13. A device of the character described 10 comprising a member adapted to travel upon the rails of a trackway, attaching means associated therewith, and plow elements depending from the under face of the member, adjacent elements being spaced.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature.

EARL G. FIDLER. 

